Science and Technology Issues, Strategies, and Approaches on Efficient and Sustainable Use of Water Resources at Field Scale

I Increase in WP require having of a plan on science and technology in the area of agricultural water management. The main objective of this research is to identify science and technology priorities and to select strategic options of water management at field scale. The methodology was based on brain storming meetings consists of the experts of the relevant research institutes and or organizations. It also used the outputs from scientific literature and the methods of strategic planning and SWOT analysis. Considering the current issues and challenges of science and technology in Iran, six main strategies on water management at field scale were identified and prioritized as: 1- Increase in WP, 2- improvement of knowledge, skill, and participation of stakeholders in water technologies, 3-development of base technologies for the efficient use of water at field scale, 4- optimization of cropping pattern and use of agricultural water, 5- development of technologies on use of marginal waters, 6- improvement of Green WP in dryland agriculture. Furthermore, approaches (actions) require for the implementation of the mentioned strategies were identified, prioritized, and finally the cause and effects networks between them were drawn. SWOT analyses were done on the identified weakness- strength and opportunity-threat of water management at field scale. Based on the results from the science and technology aspects the main strategy of invade-growth (SO) should be selected. Based on this main strategy six options for the science and technology of water management at field scale were identified.